Floor roughing machine



July 3, 1934. F. P; SLOAN, Y 1,964,746

FLOOR ROUGHING MACHINE Filed June 9. 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

68 76 INVENTOR:

BY \WWHKMiDg kw obi/l ATTORNEYS,

July 3, 1934. F P, SLOAN 1,964,746

FLOOR ROUGHING MACHINE Filed June 9. 1952 a Sheets-Sheet 2 0 0 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS;

July 3, 1934. F. P, SLOAN FLOOR ROUGHING MACHINE Filed June 9. 1962 5Sheets-Sheet 3.

- lNVENTOR:

544% T. 1M BY Mmvn Ku/Mq v w fiz/l ATTORNEYS,

Patented July 3, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention is anovel floor roughing machine, being aself-conta'ined power-drivenmechanism for the special purpose of operating upon a concrete orsimilar stony flooring, pavement or the like; the machine beingshiftable progressively over the floor on which it rests, and operatingby a picking, chopping or analogous impacting action to render rough thefloor surface as by scoring or indenting it. 7 l

Such machine is particularly useful for the important and difficult workof improving or preparing the surface of concrete flooring by providinga clean newsurface adapted to receive and unite effectively with anoverpoured layer or topping of cement mortar or similar finishingmaterial and by increasing substantially the extent of exposed area andholding surface through scorings or other indentations; but theprinciples may have other practical uses, such as for roughing orgrooving a smooth or finished surface, as a stone pavement, to afford amore secure footing or traction contact; for reducing an area or portionof flooring to a lower elevation; or the like.

The main object of the present invention is to afford a machine for thepurposes set forth which will have increased efficiency in comparisonwith existing methods of doing the same work, and an enlarged capacityor coverage, so that an extensive floor area may be roughed in a minimumperiod of time when economically important; with the additionalcommercial advantage of reduction of labor and cost in roughing a givenarea. A further object is to secure in a machine of the kind superiorease and-convenience of advance, guidance and other control. Anotherobject is to afford a strong and rugged construction of machine whichwill be durable in practical use and with its Wearing parts readilyreplaceable.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will he setforth in the hereinafter following description of an illustrativeembodiment thereof or will be understood to those conversant with thesubject. To the attainment of such objects and advantages the presentinvention consists in the novel floor roughing machine and the novelfeatures of combination, arrangement and construction hereinillustrated. or described.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a general side elevation of afloor roughing machine embodying the present invention and showing thesame in practical operation.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the operating and guiding handle of themachine and showing the driving and braking control.

Fig. 3 is aside elevation on an enlarged scale of the central portion ofthe apparatus.

Fig. 4 is a top plan View and Fig. 5 is a right 6 elevation of the partsshown in Fig. 3 with the housing broken away to show more clearly theinterior construction.

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are diagrams explanatory "of the action of theinvention.

Figs. 9, 10, 11 and 12 are detached views showing various alternativeforms of impacting or chipping members adapted to effect different sortsof results upon different characters of floor surface.

In general the present improvement may be described as a floor roughingmachine comprising a combination of certain elements to be described,including a chassis or frame which is mobile or progressively shiftableover the floor while resting upon it, a rotatable carrier or cagemounted on the chassis and having driving connections operated by anysuitable power for rotating it at substantial speed, and numerousimpacting members or disks arranged around the periphery and along theaxial length of the carrier and mounted loosely for independent playwhile held yieldingly outward by the substantial centrifugal forcedeveloped by the rotary speed; the cage and impacting members being ofsuch arrangement and dimensions that the normal position of each memberis at a distance from the carrier axis greater than the spacing of suchaxis above the floor, so that each member will impact the floor slightlyin advance of its point of lowest travel and 99 thereafter will resumeits centrifugal position on the cage.

It will be convenient to commence the description with the chassis andother general parts, leaving the cage and impacting members for later 9description. The chassis may be built up of two opposite longitudinalframe members or channels 20 connected transversely by a lateral orcross channel 21 at the front and-a similar transverse channel 22 at therear, with a pair of transverse 1 channels 23 at intermediate points,shown arranged with their flanges depending, and affording with thelongitudinals a square frame to receive the carriage or body to bedescribed. Bea tween the transverse channel 21 and the channel 23 to therear of it is shown a fifth channel 24 cooperating with the channel 21in the support of a suitable motor or engine. The several frame orchassis members thus described may be interconnected in any knownmanner, for example by welding, so as to afford a strong and rigidchassis.

The chassis is arranged to rest upon the floor while movable over it,and is spaced a predetermined distance above the floor level, forexample by supporting wheels 25 near its four corners, although skids orother supports might be used in some cases. Each pair of wheels issupported on an axle 26 and, as appears from Figs. 4 and 5, while thetwo left wheels are mounted quite close to the chassis longitudinal 20,those at the right are spaced substantially outward by means of brackets27 at that side, thus giving space for a belt drive connection betweenmotor and cage to be described.

At what will be termed the rear end of the machine the chassis hasmounted on it a handle 29 shown as built up of pipes and elbows, thehandle cross bar being at a convenient height for manual operation andthe side bars being inclined so as to space the chassis from theoperator, this arrangement also affording longitudinal leverage when itis desired to tilt upwardly the front end of the machine about the rearwheels. The handle 29 is preferably removable, the lower ends of itsside bars being shown set Within sockets or sleeves. 30 attached orwelded to the sides of the chassis longitudinals, with removable pins 31to lock the handle in place. OnFigs. 1 and 2 is shown a cross piece 32spanning the handle bars and adapted to carry controlling means for theelectric or other motor.

On account of a self propelling or creeping action of the machine to bedescribed it is advisable to have a brake to facilitate the restrictionof the advance of the machine and for this purpose a simple brake shoe33 is indicated operated by a brake rod 34 from a brake handle 35mounted on the handle 29.

As a power source an electric motor 36 is indicated, this beingsupported upon a special longitudinal chassis member 37 extending fromlateral 21 to lateral 24. The motor is shown provided with a pulley 38operating a driving belt 39 extending to the driven parts to bedescribed, the pulley being shown as of the V-grooved type with a seriesof V-belts engaging the grooves. A flexible cable41 contains leads tothe motor and this cable is shown as detachably connecting by a plugsocket 42 to a switch 43 mounted on the cross beam 32. This permitsbodily detachament of the handle and parts mounted thereon by merelydetaching the plug 42 and removing the pins 31. The switch 43 may be ofany known type comprising for example a lever, shown in middle positionin Fig. 2, but shiftable to either extreme position for driving themotor in opposite directions, the middle position being neutral fordisconnecting power. In series with the main switch is a switchconsisting of a movable pair of contacts 44 in the nature of a handleand a fixed pair of contacts 45 supplied by current through a power line46, this operating switchbeing normally held open by a spring butadapted to be held closed by hand. When the machine has to betransported on hoists or accommodated in a short space the handle withequipment thereon may be readily detached.

As shown, the operator may effect drive by holding closed the switch 44,45, with one hand,

I while making any necessery application of the brake through the brakehandle 35 operated by the other hand; and he of course may additionallyregulate the speed of travel over the floor by direct pushing or pullingupon the handle bar itself. The motor is to be selected to furnish therequisite horse power, for example 10 horse power more or less, tooperate the cage, and impact elements, and in some cases the rate orspeed of cage rotation may be regulable by rheostat, variable speedreducing gear or otherwise.

The driven parts of the machine may be supported on a resilientlysuspended body or carriage shown as built up of longitudinal beams orangles 50 and similar lateral angles 51, connected for example bywelding, and so arranged as to present a flat top surface overhangingthe longitudinals and laterals of the chassis or frame. Resilientmounting may be secured by the provision of rubber pads 53 resting ontop of the frame laterals 23 and underlying the carriage beams 50 or 51.To secure resilience in both directions a second set of rubber pads 54is located above each. of the four suspension points, at the fourcorners. Above the upper pad are enlarged washers or plates 55, and ateach corner is a vertical bolt 56 extending through the washer andthrough the rubber pads and portions of the frame and carriage, the bolthaving a lower head 57 below a part of the frame and an upper nut 58bearing upon the washer and a lock nut 59 held by a locking device 60.Mounted on top of the flat rim of the carriage is shown a housing 62enclosing the mechanism within but readily removable for access.

The driven mechanism of this invention is supported by the carriage 50,51. At each side, resting on a longitudinal 5 0, is a pillow block 64,and a transverse shaft 65, preferably horizontal, turns in the pillowblocks as bearings, the shaft having a belt pulley 66 at its exteriorright end driven by the belts 39. It will be understood that the cageshaft 65 may be mounted in various ways, for example the pillow blocksmay have reversely inclined series of rollers giving thrust resistance;and the power drive may be delivered in any way, for example bypropeller shaft and hence gears instead of belts and pulleys.

The impacting or roughing members or disks are preferably supported by arotary carrier or cage mounted on the driven shaft 65. Such carrier forexample may be built up as follows. In the space between the carriagesides the shaft carries circular plates 68 at the two ends of the space,and preferably a third or middle circular plate 69, all of which may forexample be welded or otherwise rigidly attached to the shaft, and eachof which is formed with a series of perforations to receive a system ofspindles 71, for example six in number, arranged around the peripheriesof the circular plates, preferablyparallel to the axis, thus forming therotary cage. Each of the six spindles 71 is preferably in the form of anelongated bolt having its head 72 at the left side of the cage, outsidethe plate 68, and the other end of each spindle being engaged by a loosecollar or annulus '73 secured by a cotter pin '74. This arrangementpermits the removal of the cotter pins and collars and the drawing outof each spindle at the left side, in order to remove and replace one ormore or allof the impacting members carried thereon.

The impactingmembers or disks '76 may take various forms, but ineach-case the impacter or disk is formed with an impacting peripheraledge or part '77 and a central hole 78, substantially concentric, andsubstantially larger than the di-. ameter of the spindles. By thisarrangement a complete row, series or gang of impacters or roughingdisks may be strung or mounted loosely on each spindle of the carrier sothat the numerous impact-ere have independent play or displacementinwardly on the spindles, while each of them is held yieldingly outward,to what will be termed its normal position, by the centrifugal forcedeveloped by the fast rotation of the carriage. The full or normaloutward position of each impacter on the carrier is such. that itsimpacting .part or point is at a distance from the carrier axis greaterthan the predetermined spacing of the carrier axis above the fi'oor, sothat the impacter or disk will strike the fioor with a downward inclinedmotion somewhat prior to its reaching a position directly beneath theaxis. The action is like the chop of an axe but with a more or lessglancing impact.

Before describing in full the action and results of the arrangementcertain modifications will be described. In the main figures theimpacting disks of the several gangs are in relative alinement, inplanes normal to the axis, whereas in Fig. '7 the disks of each gang arestaggered or offset with respect to those of theadjacent gang. In bothcases they are quite loose, and capable of some lateral and tiltingplay. Thus a first gang or disk series '16 is shown, and following thata gang 76 spaced endwise out of alinement, for example by an end washer79 This staggering arrangement might be carried further by washers ofvarious thicknesses for the several disk series so that the impactinglines will be diiferent with all of the gangs of disks, and the floorwill be more thoroughly covered by the impacting or roughing operation.

Fig. 8 shows a modification differing from the previous figures in thatthe disks 76 in each gang are spaced slightly from each other byinterposed washers 80 sometimes desirable in order to separate morewidely the lines of impacting action, or to reduce the total number ofimpacters or disks, or the thickness of each disk. The washers may beomitted, and looser-less of disks provided by placing five in the placewhere six would fit, this allowing tilt of each disk so that duringaction it may slide oif a hard spot and cut into a softer one; and thespindles may in such case be wavy or notched to restore the intendedspacing of the loose disks. The inside of each disk tends to wear to arounded form thus increasing its ability to swing or tilt.

In Fig. 9 is shown a particular construction. of impacting disk 76possessing greater weight and impacting momentum than a simple steel oriron disk. This disk is shown as having. its peripheral portion 81composed of a suitable metal having great toughness, strength andresistance to impact, as steel, While the body 82 of the disk iscomposed of a heavier softer metal, such as Babbitt metal, which may becast to interlock with the peripheral portion.

Fig. 10 shows a modification wherein the disk 76 is fiat at one side,its periphery slanting to a chipping edge at the other side only, and inthis disk is shown inset a hard tough ring 83- arranged to assume thebrunt of the impact and intended to preserve better the shape andchipping qualities of the disk. For example the insert 83 may be ofstellite, fused upon the body of the disk. With wear, the softer bodywears faster than the cutting insert, so that a fairly sharp edge iscontinuously preserved.

In Fig, 12 is shown another form of impacting disk '76 differing fromthe main form in that the edge or periphery 77 is provided with a seriesof projections or teeth 89 in the form of pieces of hard cuttingmaterial, such as stellite, applied.

to the peripheral edge so as to afford a circular row of hard impactingteeth adapted to give very effective action with minimum wear.

The impacters or roughing disks of the preceding figures are reversiblein action, as they will operate with rotation in either direction of thecarrier, which is of advantage. When this feature is not necessary aspecial impacter may be used for certain special conditions givingsuperior action but in one direction only. Fig. 11 shows such a disk 76with special teeth 84 having chipping or picking apexes 85, the fullconstruction and operation of which will be separately described below,but which is inferior for general roughing work to the first describeddisk with continuous impacting edge in a plane at right angles to therotation axis.

In the embodiment of Figs. 1-6, as a practical example, the carriershaft may be 8 inches above the wheel base or floor, spindle lengthbetween end plates 12%, distance of spindle from carrier axis 6 inches,and other dimensions in proportion; the disks may be 1 inch thick, 4%inch diameter, with 1% inch hole, weighing 3 pounds; rotary speedbetween about 400 and 800 R. P. M. and travel speed between about 10 and40 feet per minute. The rotary speed more than sufii'ces to hold thedisks normally outward. At impact each disk is moving with a geaterhorizontal than vertical component, the blow being that of a pick ratherthan an axe. Gravity Works with the impact, but at the top of the orbitdoes not control the disk movement. After each impact occur certaindisplacements and reactions; but the disk quickly resumes itscentrifugal position. on the carrier, and ceases oscillation before thenext impact, but with a diiferent part of the striking edge presentedfor impact.

Fig. 6 shows the spindle '71 and disk 76 at the impact position on theradius q, and in subsequent other positions, on the vertical radius p,the circle r representing the spindle path. At the moment of impact thecenter of gravity 3 of the disk is directly above the impact point t.The cord t-u is normal to th radius q, which intersects the cutting edgeat w.

Each disk strikes the fioor at t in the impact direction iii-t,effecting a roughing action begin.- ning at t. The depth, width andlength of the cut varies with the character and hardness of the floor.With zero resistance the disk 76 would travel to position "/6", thepoint w indicating the maximum depth of out. A practical depth might bethat indicated by 10 the disk being at 76*. Assuming zero out the point10 would be at w on the disk position 76 Thesethree positions arevertically separated, the point '0 of intersection of the radius withthe disk hole assuming the three positions 12', v 11 On the assumptionthat the several disks in each cutting plane will cut to the depth 10this cut will be in the nature of a groove extending leftward therefromas indicated. Adjustment of the impacting action may be effected byvertical adjustment of the height of the carrier axis above the floor,for example by relatively raising or low ering the front wheels on thechassis, or by interchanging the resilient pads 53 for others ofdifferent thickness; or to the same purpose the impacting disks might beexchanged for others of different diameter. The several disk positionswith relation to th spindle as shown in Fig, 6 are theoretical; inpractice the disk may retain contact with the spindle, it is found thatthere is .no appreciable blow or retarding action of the disk upon thespindle.

The described embodiment possesses the advantage of a useful degree ofself propulsion or thrust in a direction opposite to the horizontalcomponent of impact, that is, to the right in Fig. 6;

described brake has been found desirable.

A given area may be covered by forward travel only or. by forward andreverse travel, the latter effected by reversal of the rotation of themotor .and carrier. Parallel roughing grooves are usually sufficient,but if desired the machine may be run at right angles to formintersecting grooves.

.To' skip a given area the chassis is readily tilted upbytheaid of thecounterbalancing weight of the motor. The impacting action may bemodified 'by bearing up or down on the handle or by adding .a variableweight to the front of the chassis. *The'roughing action may beregulated also by changing the speed of travel or propulsion. At

ten feet per minute the rapid repetition of overlapping cuts along eachline is found to afford satisfactory roughing for ordinary concrete. Byslowing the travel, the depth and width of cut can be increased, andvice versa. By holding the machine against travel it will chip out abasin of the maximum depth of out.

Fig. 4 shows the shaft extended outwarcfly at one side and on this maybe mounted a narrow carrier with spindles and disks beyond the chassisto enable roughing to be effected close to a wall. To reduce the widthof the roughing path all of the disks at one side of the center might beomitted. The chassis tends to ride upon the rapidly impacting series ofdisks; and if the disks are'omitted from three of the six spindles theangle of impact may consequently be increased.

Fig.- 11' shows an impacter or disk '76 of special form, giving asuperior chipping or picking action but only in one direction ofrotation of the carrier. It is characterized by teeth 84 having apexes35 and durable radial faces 86 The teeth are seven in number and thedisk hole has seven notches 88 for the spindle 71, each notch being sopositioned that a nearly opposite tooth apex will first meet the floorat an effective impact point. Between teeth apexes are convex toothsurfaces 8'7 giving maximum backing and strength to the teeth whileclearing the floor throughout each cut. The radii p and q and path areshown as in Fig. 6. The odd number seven is the greatest number of teethadaptable to proper action and clearance, determined as follows. Thechord t-u is drawn as in Fig. 6, intersecting the apex circle at it,which falls just short of the next apex to the right, which is above theline-ut; and by reason of this arrangement the impacting and chippingaction will be free from interference by contact with the floor ofeither the next apex to the right or that to the left. The disk '76 hasa chipping or picking which is highly effective as compared with asimple disk, and it is inexpensive of manufaoture and durable in use.

The herein disclosed method or step of preparing a concrete flooring orarch surface to receive an overpoured or topping layer of cement mortarwhich comprises the roughing of the flooring by bonding grooves placedin parallelism to facilitate the clearing of the flooring of debris asby water jets applied in the direction of the grooves is not claimedherein but is made the subject of claim in copending application SerialNo. 680,042 filed July 12, 1933.

Having thus described one or more illustrative embodiments of theprinciples of the invention it is stated that the invention is notintended to be limited to matters of combination, arrangement andconstruction except to the extent set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine for roughing concrete flooring comprising a mobile frameprogressively shiftable over while resting upon the floor, a carrierrotatably mounted on the frame in a predetermined suspended positionwholly clear of the floor, and having power connections for rotating itat substantial speed, and numerous impacting members or disks arrangedaround the periphery and along the length of the carrier, mountedloosely on the carrier for independent inward play thereon while heldyieldingly outward by centrifugal force, and the normal outward positionof each impacting member on the carrier being such that its impactingedge is at a distance from the axis substantially greater than thespacing of the carrier above the floor.

2. A machine as in claim 1 and wherein is a body on which the rotarycarrier is directly mounted in elevated position, and with cushion orrubber mountings attaching the body to the frame for insulation ofvibration without substantial freedom of yield.

3. A machine for roughing concrete flooring comprising a mobile frameprogressively shiftable over while resting upon the floor, a carriermounted on the frame to rotate about a horizontal axis in suspendedposition wholly clear of the floor, and having a peripheral series ofspindles and with power connections for rotating it at substantialspeed, and a series of impacting members or disks arranged along thelength of each carrier spindle, mounted loosely on the spindle forindependent inward play thereon while held yieldingly outward bycentrifugal force, and the normal outward position of each impactingmember on the carrier being such that its impacting edge will strike thefloor substan tiaily before reaching the vertical plane of the carrieraxis.

4. A machine as in claim 3 and wherein is means for adjusting thespacing of the carrier above the floor to determine the distance of theimpact point from the vertical plane of the carrier axis and the angleof impact.

5. A machine for roughing concrete flooring comprising a mobile frameprogressively shiftable over while resting upon the floor, a carrierrotatably mounted on the frame in suspended position wholly clear of thefloor, and having power connections for rotating it at substantialspeed, and numerous impacting disks arranged around the periphery andalong the length of the carrier, each having a substantially continuouscircumferential impacting edge in a plane at right angles to the carrieraxis and a large inte rior hole by which it is mounted loosely on thecarrier for independent inward play thereon while held yieldinglyoutward by centrifugal force.

6. A machine as in claim 5 and wherein each disk is circular with aconcentric circular hole and therefore shiftable circularly andoperative in any position.

7. A machine as in claim 5 and wherein the several disks are locatedwith their peripheral edges in spaced apart lines of impacting actionthereby to roughen the floor in the form of parallel grooves.

8. A machine for roughing concrete flooring comprising a mobile frameprogressively shiftable over while resting upon the floor, a carrierrotatably mounted on the frame in suspended position wholly clear of thefloor, and having power connections for rotating it at substantialspeed, and numerous impacting disks arranged around the periphery andalong the length of the carrier, mounted loosely on the carrier forindependent inward play thereon while held yieldingly outward bycentrifugal force, and mounted loosely also for lateral play wherebyeach disk may shift sidewise somewhat during impact.

9. A machine for roughing concrete flooring comprising a mobile frameprogressively shiftable over while resting upon the floor, a carrierrotatably mounted on the frame in suspended position wholly clear of thefloor, and having power connections for rotating it at substantialspeed, and numerous impacting disks arranged around the periphery andalong the length of the carrier, mounted loosely on the carrier forindependent inward play thereonwhile held yieldingly outward bycentrifugal force, and mounted loosely for slight tilting movement outof its normal position whereby each disk may adapt itself tothe work.

10. A machine as in claim 3 and wherein upon each of the spindles theimpacting disks are arranged loosely adjacent, thereby allowing freedomof play laterally or tiltingly so that each disk may shift in adaptationto the work.

11. A floor roughing machine comprising a mobile chassis or frameprogressively shiftable over while resting upon the floor, a carrier orcage rotatably mounted on the chassis with its axis spaced a substantialpredetermined distance above the floor line, and having powerconnections for rotating it at substantial speed, and numerous impactingdisks arranged around the periphery and along the length of the carrier,

mounted loosely on the carrier for independent play or inwarddisplacement thereon while held yieldingly outward by centrifugal force,and the normal outward position of each disk on the carrier being suchthat its impacting part is at a distance from the carrier axis greaterthan the spacing of the carrier axis above the floor; the impactingdiscs being arranged in several peripheral series lengthwise of thecarrier, and the disks of each series being spaced apart or loose andthereby adapted relatively to tilt during impact.

12. A machine for roughing concrete flooring comprising awheel-supported frame freely shiftable over the floor, carrying a motor,but its wheels unconnected with the motor, a carrier with shaftrotatably mounted on the frame with the carrier in a predeterminedelevated position wholly clear of the floor, and with connections fromthe motor for rotating it at substantial speed, and with a system ofperipheral spindles, and numerous impacting disks arranged around theperiphery and along the length of the carrier, on said spindles, eachsubstantially circular and with a substantially circular concentric holeover 3/2 times the diameter of the spindle, whereby the disks are loosefor inward play while held yieldingly outward by centrifugal force, andthe normal outward position of each disk being such that its point ofimpact on the floor is substantially in advance of the vertical plane ofthe carrier axis; whereby after the impact of each disk it is drawn byits spindle along the floor until lifted therefrom, and whereby thereaction of all the disks on all the spindles during their contact withthe floor produces a substantially continuous thrust on the carrier andpropulsive force to advance the wheeled frame.

13. An impacting disk as in Fig. 11 having an odd number of cuttingteeth, and a central hole to receive a spindle with spindle notchesopposite to the spaces between tooth apexes.

FRANCIS P. SLOAN;

